Folding cot



May 17, 1955 n. scHLoss ETAL FOLDING COT Filed July 23, 1952 ATTORNE Y United States Patent O FOLDING cor Dan Schloss, Baitimore, Md., and Alfred William Houtz, Elizabeth Ci. N. C., assignors to Lumberterla, Inc., Baltimore, lvid., a corporation of Maryland Application July 23, 1952, Serial No. 300,371

6 Claims. (Cl. 5--111) This invention relates to folding cots and the like and aims generally to improve the same.

Particular objects of the invention, severally and interdependently, are to provide a simple and light weight cot construction adapted to fold compactly; a cot structure adapted to serve as a light weight stretcher; a cot having a special arrangement of braces adapted to rigidity the cot in adjusted positions; a cot having U-shaped head and foot rest and U-shaped leg portions associated therein in a new and simple manner; a cot having folding U- shaped head, foot and leg portions combined with a novel arrangement of straps for holding the cot in folded positionyand more particularly for securing blankets and other bed clothing or the like within the folded cot between the body and the folded head and foot portions thereof; to provide a highly weatherproof cot structure, and to provide novel features of construction and combination of parts contributing to the realization of the foregoing objects.

The invention resides in the cot construction as herein described and in the novel features of construction thereof, and is more particularly deiined in the appended claims.

ln the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a half plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a half edge View of the cot in folded position to an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a detail cross section taken on the plane 4 4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 5 is a detail of the transverse member of the U shaped leg portions.

As shown in the drawings, the cot frame of the present invention comprises U-shaped head and foot or end mem bers 10, preferably identical and formed of cylindrical aluminum tubing; U-shaped leg members 11, also preferably identical and of cylindrical aluminum tubing, side rails 12 preferably identical and of square or rectangular aluminum tubing, and four double hinge members 13,

preferably identical and of cast aluminum, together with associated rivets as hereinafter described. For use as a litter the cot further comprises four adjustable spring braces 14, preferably identical and of stainless steel or cadmium plated steel rod. The cot cover in the form shown, is pre-sewed, preferably from weatherproof woven articial plastic fabric and has pre-sewed thereto a plurality of straps 21, as hereinafter described.

Of the four double hinge members, as best shown in Fig. 3, each comprises a base member 13a and end panel hinge member 13b and a leg panel hinge member 13C. The base member 13a is preferably of rectangular cross section and has a shouldered rectangular shank portion extending into the rectangular side rail 12, with a flush joint, and comprises end member hinge pad means shown as two upstanding ears 13d with an associated abutment surface 13e, and leg member hinge pad means shown as rce a single depending ear 13f with an associated abutment surface 13g.

The end panel hinge member 13b is preferably of cylindrical cross section and has a shouldered cylindrical shank portion that extends into the end member 10 with a substantially flush joint, and comprises a hinge pad means shown as a single odset ear 13h with an associated abutment surface 131'. The ears 13d and 13h are joined by a hinge pin, so placed that the abutment surfaces 13e, 13a' engage with each other when the end member 10 is opened into alignment with the side rail member 12, as shown at the right hand end of Fig. l.

The leg panel hinge member 13C has a shouldered cylindrical shank extending into the leg member 11, and is provided with hinge pad means shown as a pair of ears 13m with an associated abutment surface 13m arranged at about 60 to the shank axis. The hinge pad means 131, 13m are connected by a hinge pin so placed that the abutment surfaces 13g and 1311 engage when the leg members are swung outwardly past dead center and lie at about 60 to the side rail axis, as shown in Fig. l. As indicated at 13p, Fig. 3, the shank members in each instance, extend su'lciently far into the associated tubular member to form a rigid assembly therewith, which associations are maintained, after assembly of the cot, by rivets extending through the tubular and shank members, as shown.

As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the U-shaped end members or panels 1t) have curved corners and substantially straight bases extending transversely of the cot. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the U-shaped leg members also have rounded corners and preferably have their transverse portions bent upwardly or arched between their corners to obtain a firm bearing on the supporting surface 30 on which the cot may be stood.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, shown, the spring braces 14 are hinged at 14a to the side legs of the end members 10 near the mid portion of the length thereof and fold upwardly toward the transverse portions of the end members 1t), as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The hinging of the brace 14 is preferably accomplished by having the end of the brace member 14 bent to make a hinge pin 14a standing at an angle of 90 or a little less to the brace arm, such hinge pin 14a being inserted through an abutment positioned washer 14b and a hole drilled transversely of the side leg of the end member 10, and being secured as by a tight nut 14e fastened on the projecting tip of the hinge pin. The terminal end 14d of the brace arm is also bent over at right angles to the brace arm to form a locking pin. The side legs of the leg members are provided with at least one set of holes 15, positioned to be entered by the locking pins of the brace arms 14- when the end members 10 and leg members 11 are fully open as shown at the right hand end of Fig. l. The entry of the locking pins into the holes 15 is effected by springing the resilient brace arms 14 from their normal alignment and allowing them to spring back into the holes 15 and the spring of the brace arms maintains the engagement until forcibly re leased. Thus the spring brace structure affords a simple and effective securement.

By this arrangement of the arms 14 and holes 15, provision is made for rigidly bracing both the leg elements 11 and the end members 10 relative to the side rails 12, thus insuring against infolding of the legs during movement of the cot relative to a supporting surface 30, and adapting the cot for use as a litter, for which purpose handle means are provided in the manner hereinafter described.

For military and other use in which elevation of the head or feet Without use of pillows may be desired, the side legs of the U-shaped leg members 11 may be provided with additional series of holes 15a, 15b, 15C, spaced higher up the leg members.

By springing the brace members 14 into these additional holes, as exemplified at the left hand end of Fig. l, elevation of the end panel may be accomplished, and at thesame time the engaged braces will still insure against infolding of the legs 11, because even if such infolding is initiated with the brace engaged with a high hole as 15e, the abutment surfaces 13e, 131' engage and stop such infolding before the adjacent end of the cot is dropped excessively. V

The hinged connections 14a are spaced from the transverse end of the U-shaped end members by a distance greater than the length of the brace 14, and single holes 16 are drilled in the inner walls of the leg members to receive the pin 14d and hold the brace in folded position when the cot is to be collapsed, this engagement being rendered possible by the flexibility of the cover 20. Y

As above mentioned, the cot cover 20 is preferably formed of woven weatherproof synthetic plastic fabric to give body ventilation without moisture absorption, and is preferably pre-sewed before assembly with the panel elements of the cot.

In the preferred form, as shown, the cover has substantial reentrant or cut out portions 20a, 2017 at the corners and sides` of the cot, the portions 20b at the sides preferably being located adjacent the double hinge elements 13, for the purpose hereinafter described. Smaller cut out portions 20c are also provided at the hinge points of the braces 14, and the fabric is hemmed or otherwise finished adjacent the cut out portions and all other exposed edges. Between the cut out portions 20a, 20b, 20c, the cot cover is pre-served with relatively wide open ended tubular sleeves to embrace the transverse and side legs of the U-shaped end members 10 and the side rails 12. At distances from the cut outs 20b about equal to the spacing therefrom of the cut outs 20a the cover 20 is provided with at least one pair of straps 21, preferably attached to the underside of the cover 20, conveniently by the same sewing operation that secures the tubular sleeves 20d. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the straps 21 are preferably of suicient length to enable one strap end Yto be passed over the side rail 12 and under and around the'infolded end panel through the cut out portion 20a While the other strap end passes around the infolded leg member 11, the ends of the strap being then suitably engaged, as by a buckle 21a.

For ordinary use, twoystraps are suicient, and are preferably mounted adjacent the same side rail, as indicated in Fig. 2, but a special advantage is achieved by the provision of two more straps forming a second pair at the opposite side of the cot from the rst pair shown, since the buckling of the four straps is eective to completely'lock within the folded cot, sheets, blankets or other flat articles folded and laid onrthe cot bottom 20 between the side rails 12 before the end panels are folded over `thereon and buckled tight at each side thereof. In

the preferred form shown, the transverse portions of theV end members 10 are parallel and the end members are nearly half as long as the side rails 12, measuring from the hinge pins, and in the folded position of the cot the end members 10 thus nearly abut to substantially close the middle ofthe underlying storage space. As shown in Fig.' 3 the transverse bars of the U-shaped leg members 11 underlie those of the end members 10 in the folded position of the parts, and prevent sagging of the'cover under the weight of stored items.

The provision of the cut outs 20a of substantial size is highly advantageous not only to permit passage of the straps 21 ltherethrough for retaining the cot in folded position and to avoid the presentation of fabric at the V corners of the cot Where it might be subject to abrasion,

but also to exposetheend panel'members 10 to form hand-holds or handlesrfor the cot when used as a litter;

andto expose the tubular portiony containing the brace retainer 16. Similarly the provision of relatively large cut-outs at 20b, at the opposite ends of the sideV rails, not only protects the fabric from damage by action of the hinge member 13, but also provides side hand-holds adapting the cot for eifective use as a four-man litter. Furthermore, the arrangement of the straps 21 and braces 14 is such that when the cot is folded the ends 14d of the braces project into the cutout spaces 20a where they may be embraced by the straps 21 and thus held against swinging outwardly and catching on clothing or other articles or presenting a hazard to personnel, in the event they are not engaged in the retainers 16.

In the assembly of the cot, the end members 10 are passed through the end embracing sleeves of the cot cover 20 and the side rails through the sleeves therefor. The hinge members 13 are then assembled with the side rails, end members and leg members and riveted, these assemblies being readily made with the end members folded in toward the side rails. The subsequent assembly of the brace members, facilitated by the cut outs 20c, completes the job.

While there has been described herein what is at present considered a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that minor modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention. It is there# fore to be understood that the exemplary embodiment is` illustrative and not restrictive of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims, and that all modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be included therein.

We claim:

l. A device of the class described comprising, in com# bination, U-shaped tubular end members, U-shaped tubular leg members, side rails, double hinge members foldably securing said end and leg members to said side rails to fold inwardly dat against said side rails, a cover secured to said side rails and tothe side and transverse portions of said end members, said cover having at each corner thereof cut out portions exposing the tubular corners of said end members and portions of the side legs thereof adjacent to such corners, a pair of straps secured'to the under side of said cover in proximity to one of said side rails, the points of securement of said straps being positioned in proximity to the exposed tubular corner portions of said end members when the latter are in folded position and each strap being of such length as to pass under and over a tubular side rail, through the exposed corner portion of the tubular end member and aboutthe same and thence about the adjacent portion of the infolded leg member for Ysimultaneously inter-securing the end and leg members in folded position, the exposed portions of the end and leg members about which said straps pass being smoothly rounded.

2. A combination according to claim l in which a pair of straps is secured to the under side of said cover as aforesaid in proximity to each of said side rails whereby the intersecuring of 'all four straps serves to lock withinV the folded structure articles placed therein before the end members are folded inwardly against said side rails.

3. A combination according to claim 2 further includf ing resilient spring braces pivoted tothe side arms of said end members to pivot into alignment therewith-and' in such aligned position to be embraced by the straps passing through the exposed corners of the tubular end members for securement therewith.

4. A combination according to claim 2, in lwhich th portions nearly abut each other, for substantially closing the facingends of the' pockets formed in the coverA by the folding of the frame elements together. v

5. A folding cot comprising, in combination, U-shaped tubular end members, U-shaped tubular leg members, side rails, double hinge members foldably securing said end and leg members to said side rails to fold inwardly flat against said side rails, a tiexible sheet-like cover secured to said side rails and to the side and transverse portions of said end members, said end members being each nearly half as long as said side rails and having substantially parailel transverse members so that when said end members are in folded position their transverse members nearly touch each other to form a substantially continuous enclosed storage space within said folded cover, framed by said folded end-and-leg members, and of substantially half the length of the open cot, said cover having openings therein exposing the corners of said tubular end members and lying nearly centrally of the cot in their folded position, said cot comprising strap means attached to the underside thereof, positioned, and of a length, to pass through and about said exposed comers for securing the end members in folded relation.

6. A device of the class described comprising, in

rods being resilient and thus capable of being sprung out of their respective planes of rotation and of springing back into said planes, the side arms of said U-shaped leg members each comprising a series of holes spaced longitudinally therealong and selectively engageable by the locking elements of said spring braces for locking the end members to the leg members in selected angular positions of adjustment, and the side arms of the said U-shaped end members having holes near the transverse portions thereoil positioned to be engageable by the locking elements of said spring braces for securing the same while the structure is in folded position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 580,826 Fath Apr. 13, 1897 749,731 Hall Ian. 19, 1904 758,211 Jones Apr. 26, 1904 1,205,216 junger Nov. 21, 1916 1,265,848 Wheeler May 14, 1918 1,602,115 Malis Oct. 5, 1926 1,763,447 Schilling Iurle 10, 1930 2,337,955 Wright Dec. 28, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,545 Australia Mar. 16, 1932 47,200 Denmark Apr. 10, 1933 128,201 Germany Feb. 7, 1902 261,936 Switzerland June 15, 1949 980,523 France Dec. 27, 1950 999,817 France Oct. 10, 1951 

